Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

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The first sponsored day of 2017!

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Can you believe it? It’s actually 2017!

A new day of a new year – fresh and waiting for what is to come.

Friend of the sanctuary Kathleen, who has donated her amazing graphic design talents on many projects for the sanctuary over the last few years, has the unique privilege of having this day in her honor. 

David Guernsey sponsored today in Kathleen’s honor with this message, When asked what Kathleen wanted for Christmas, her reply was a gift to her favorite friends at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW. January 1st seemed like a fitting day as I know she shares your excitement in the expansion of the sanctuary property. Happy New Year CSNW.

Thank you, David, and thank you, Kathleen for all of the wonderful things that you do for your chimpanzee friends.

Here’s to Hope.Love.Home…Sanctuary for more chimpanzees!

I thought I’d bring back a video in honor of Kathleen from last year of BFFs Missy and Annie, because this kind of love and silliness is what sanctuary is all about:

and some bonus photos of Negra, because… Negra:

Negra standing 2

 

 

 

Negra takes play very seriously

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Negra, the grumpy 43-year-old Queen of the Cle Elum Seven, plays differently than the other chimps. Usually, she plays at one quarter speed. You can often see her playing gently with Missy in the loft or greenhouse while they are waiting for breakfast. Missy does her best to play at Negra’s pace, and the look on her face indicates that she is more excited about the very idea that she got the sleepy old lady to play than she is about the game itself. Look everybody, Negra is playing!

Negra and Missy playing

But when Negra is feeling really playful, she is a different animal altogether. There’s no smiling. No laughing, either. And all the hitting and wrestling that chimpanzees usually tone down and smooth over when playing is dished out with full force. She slaps her playmates. She headbutts them. She slams them into the wall. She grabs them by the feet and refuses to let go.

Missy and Foxie are well acquainted with Negra’s style of play, but it often comes as a surprise to the other chimps. At these times, they look more like hostages than playmates. At one point in this video, Jody turns to the camera, seemingly hoping that someone will step in to save her. But alas, there’s nothing we can do. Playtime isn’t over until Negra says so.

Chimpanzees playing = your #GivingTuesday thanks!

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Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporters have done it again! We initially made it a goal to raise $12,000 today for Giving Tuesday.

 

Burrito Giving Tuesday

That goal has been surpassed, and we have a new challenge – a supporter at a distance is putting a matching challenge check in the mail for the next $1,000 raised, so I’ve increased the total goal to $15,000.

There’s still eight hours to go before midnight. Can we do it?

I am pretty sure that the video at the end of this post that Anna took today of the chimpanzees playing will inspire you to donate if you haven’t already and will also hopefully inspire you to share this post so more people know about our new goal.

We’ve been inspired all day by the messages that have come in with donations. This recent comment really summed it all up (thank you!): What makes my heart soar is “Knowing that Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jaime, Jody, Missy and Negra are safe, happy, living a full enriching life with companionship and are so very loved! I am so thrilled about the expansion and future retirees that will be joining you soon! Thank you for giving lives back.”

We were also inspired by Mary, a challenge donor earlier in the day who first heard about the sanctuary in 2007 through her daughter who was enrolled in the Primate Behavior program at Central Washington University at the time. Mary helped with the early construction of the chimp house, setting forms in the cold and helping with roof trusses during the windy season. Mary has been a donor ever since, and her generous pledge today helped surpass our goal.

Donor stories make my heart soar!

And chimpanzees playing. Definitely chimpanzees playing.